Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Deuter Hiking Backpack @ Metro Plaza Kajang

a wide variety of hiking backpacks




I was looking for a hiking bag. I planed to use it for travelling and hiking purposes. I recalled that Metro Plaza Kajang had a hiking accessory shop on the top floor, near to GSC cinema area. The shop name was Evergreen Adventure (03-8734 7318). Beside hiking bag, the shop also sold tent, head light, sleeping bag, and all sorts of hiking accesories could be found over here.

Deuter: Futura 50 series

My new Deuter backpack

I initially planned to buy a red colour Deuter backpack that only costed me around RM250 but it was an old model. Furthermore its size was only 40 litres.

After discussion and comparision, I decided to buy a new arrival bag with branded name - Deuter. The lattest feature was with "zero" word, which was extremely light weight as compared to those backpacks without zero. Therefore it costed me RM350. It was the most expensive bag I had ever bought. The bag was 50 litres, allowing me to carry a lot of stuff.

Green color bag with Deuter Brand

Frankly speaking, I was not keen on the green color but it was the only color for this models. The saler said that these bags had 3 colors but all sold out already. So no choice...

Rear view: with aircomfort back system

aircomfort back system

Futura Zero: super light weight + 50 litres

The details of the bag as below (source) :
Style: 44587
Volume: 3050 cubic inches (50 litres)
Torso: 16-21 inches
Weight: 3 lbs. 5 oz. (1650g)
Dimensions (HxWxD): 28 x 13 x 9 inches


View Larger Map



Are you short-sighted?

Young woman OR Old man?

Interesting picture which can test whether u are short-sight.

If u are short sighted w/o glasses, u see a young woman. With glasses, an
old man.




If u are NOT short sighted, u see a old man but if u close your eyes to a
mere fine line, u will see a young woman.

Take the test now :)
Cool


不近視的人看到的是愛因斯坦

近視的人看到的是瑪麗蓮夢露

不近視的人把眼睛眯起來也可以看到瑪麗蓮夢露

近視的人戴眼鏡看的是愛因斯坦, 取下眼鏡看到的是瑪麗蓮夢露

你近視或是不近視,看這圖就可以看出來了

Monday, December 29, 2008

Broga Hill @ Semenyih (茅草山 @ 士毛月)

Panoramic view of Broga Hill
(click image to enlarge)

Broga has a famous hiking place, which is called Broga Hill (Bukit Lalang / 茅草山 ). It is located not very far away from the University of Nottingham, at between the university and broga town centre. The entrance of Broga Hill is quite obscure and not easily spotted because it did not have any signboard. A good way to identify the entrance is by searching for Rabbit Fun Land (www.earcsb.com) as shown in the image below:





Rabbits @ Rabbit Fun Land

The broga entrance is directly opposite of it. The other method, in case the rabbit fun land has shifted away somewhere, the entrance can be known by looking at this milestone which is situated near to rabbit fun land:

Milestone indicates 1km from Broga town

I have added Broga Hill (Bukit Lalang / 茅草山 ) icons on google map. You are freely to check on the Broga Hill exact location.


Guide / Map to Broga Hill (click on the icons to see the details)


View Broga Hill Direction in a larger map
Just added the above Google Map to Broga Hill. (24 Jan 2010)
(click on the green mountain icon to see picture)


Click here to: Direction / Map to Semenyih, giving a clear directions & options to Semenyih Town.

16 Nov morning, I planned to hike Broga Hill with my wife and my family. It had been years that I did not come to this place since secondary school, maybe due to my laziness or too many excuses. In fact, I did not remember the entrance but luckily I managed get information from internet. Early in the morning, we embarked from my home town, Semenyih (see my blog about Semenyih) to Broga Hill. It took me about 10 minutes drive to the entrance. Hmm, to conquer this little Broga Hill was not a challenge to me after I had hiked Bukit Tabur/Bukit Melawati (see my blog about Bukit Tabur experience) last two weeks.

Broga Hill Entrance is facing to Rabbit Fun Land

I parked my car besides the road and walked toward to the entrance. Normally hikers will park their cars near to the entrance as shown in figure below.

Broga Hill Palm Oil Parking Lots

The main entrance was a vast palm oil estate. Palm oil trees were in abundance over there. If you hike at evening time, there will be billions of famished mosquitoes biting you. As a result, we did not come across this miserable scenario. Furthermore, air was fresh when hiking in the morning.

Palm oil trees along with a trail (pretty flat)

Transition from palm oil estate to rubber tree estate
(take the left direction to lemon grass area)



We took about 10 minutes walk and reached to rubber tree estate. We did not take the route to the rubber tree estate but we just passed by it. Right after this, we saw a vast land planted with lemon grass "香茅". Previously there were no such plants over here. Perhaps, the plants had high profit margin, according to my mom. We just followed the small uphill trail to reach to forest trail. Do not take the main trail which is flat.

Hill slope is full with lemon grass 香茅. Follow this small hill trail

The view from uphill point- a vast of lemon grass

After this, it was a forest trail. It did not have very steep slope. Along the trail, there were several landslide areas, so be cautious.

Forest Trail

Several landslide areas. Be cautious

small bridge?

about to reach to the peak!

After passing the forest area, we reached to an area with plentiful of long grasses, which was known as Lalang in Malay. We had to wade throught these long grasses. These grasses were extremely tall and long. Some could reach more than 150cm height. This path was steeper as compared to the previous trail. Furthermore, the uphill trail was a bit slippery, covered with sands...(during descent)

Long grass (Lalang) trail

Grass trail with wide landscape background

After tiring trudge, we finally arrived a small flat place with few giant rocks. Then my mother immediately lay down on a giant rocks, taking a short nap. She was exhausted and out of breath. She was almost half death, losing all her stamina. She did not hike any hill before this and this trip was her first hiking experience. Furthermore she seldom did exercise at home. While waiting, we took some photos..

My mom was half death, lying on the rock (not yet reaching the peak)
(I hope my mom will not get angry when seeing this photo on blog)

Could you see the University of Nottingham?

Over there, the University of Nottingham Malaysia main campus could be clearly seen. I noticed that the university was surrounded by palm oil trees, providing calm and tranquil study environment. Besides the university, we also spotted Taman Pelangi Semenyih, new police station, Bandar Rinching, Semenyih town, and broga town area.

Closer Look of The University of Nottingham

take some photo while waiting for my mom

taking photo with Broga town area

After the short nap, my mother was "fully" recharged. We encouraged her to continue the journey because the peak was just about to arrive. Ganbatte ne!

Broga Hill View with Lalang

All members with Broga Hill

Finally, we arrived on the Broga Hill peak (1st station). We were thrilled to see the fascinating and spectacular view! We could see almost 360 degree view. There was a Malaysia flag, making the place for photo takers. We took several shots with the flag!!

victory sign!

My brother and I

Conquered Broga Hill

Tasting her fruitful victory

Yes! I was on top of the world!

the University of Nottingham

What are the reasons to have these long grasses that cover the whole peaks? It is because the underneath are big rocks. Therefore these rocks prevent large plants to grow near to the peaks. Only "Lalang" or 茅草 grasses can be grown in such area with thin soil surface. These grasses are actually making this hill so special and unique.

Broga hill covered with "Lalang" or 茅草 grasses

on the way to the other peak

After some rest at the peak, we started to descend and return back. We did not continue to the other peaks since my mother was tired. Furthermore the weather was hot and sunny.

victory sign (coming down from the peak)


Long grass trail with rocks

Along the Broga Hill trail, several plants can be found:

Tall "Lalang" grass

Lalang grass

Lalang grass?

what is this?

Flower



Paku-pakis with insect (could u spot it?)

Little palm oil tree

After the hike, we drove to Chia Kee Restaurant in Kampung Baru Semenyih to savour Pan Mee 板面 for our breakfast. The Pan Mee was quite famous in Semenyih since I was born.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bukit Tabur / Bukit Melawati:
Another great place to hike in Kuala Lumpur


You may click the links below:

Panoramic view of Bukit Tabur (click on image to enlarge)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Photobucket